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. 2013 Apr 3;34(3):117–124. [Article in Spanish] doi: 10.1016/S0212-6567(04)79480-9

La violencia contra la mujer en la pareja como factor asociado a una mala salud física y psíquica

Intimate partner violence as a factor associated to health problems

L Raya Ortega a, I Ruiz Pérez b,c,*, J Plazaola Castaño b,c, S Brun López-Abisab d, D Rueda Lozano e, L García de Vinuesa f, JM González Barranco g, LM Garralon Ruiz h, M Arnalte Barrera i, B Lahoz Rallo d, MD Acemel Hidalgo j, MP Carmona Molina e
PMCID: PMC7669212  PMID: 15274898

Abstract

Objective

To study the impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) on women's physical and psychological health.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Primary care centers in 3 Andalusian provinces.

Patients

A total of 425 women, aged 18 to 65 years, were recruited following the same randomisation process in 6 primary care centers.

Measurements

A self-administered structured questionnaire for this study was used to gather the information. As well as sociodemographic variables, the instrument included questions about IPV, physical health indicators (chronic disease and type, lifetime surgeries, days in bed), psychological health (psychological morbidity, use of tranquilizers, antidepressants, pain killers, alcohol and recreational drugs), self-perceived health and social support.

Results

Of 425 women, 31.5% ever experienced any type of partner violence. Women experiencing IPV were more likely to suffer a chronic disease. IPV was significantly associated with a number of adverse health outcomes, including spending more than 7 days in bed in the last three months (ORa=2.96; CI 95%, 1.00-8.76), psychological morbidity (ORa=2.68; CI 95%, 1.60-4.49) and worse self-perceived health (ORa=1.89; CI 95%, 1.04-3.43), after controlling for potential confounding variables.

Conclusions

This study shows that ever experiencing IPV is associated with a worse psychological and self-perceived health. Physical injuries are not the only «evidence» of the presence of IPV. Primary health care proffessionals are in a privileged position to help women who are abused by their partners.

Key words: Domestic violence, Battered women, Women's health, Mental health, Primary health care

Fuente de financiación: Red Temática de Investigación de Salud y Género (ISCIII) (G03/042) y Red de Investigación en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (C03/09).

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